Archive for January, 2005

Tobacco farmers are anxiously awaiting their money from a federal buy-out of the old quota system. North Carolina farmers are due to get the biggest share of the 10-billion dollar buy-out. The President signed the buy-out last Fall but the farmers still don’t have their checks. WUNC’s Leoneda Inge reports.

2,800 Wake County students are back home this evening (1/20/05) after yesterday\’s snow stranded them overnight at area schools. WUNC\’s Laura Leslie spent this morning at Leesville Road Middle School in Raleigh.

A couple inches of snow paralyzed the City of Raleigh on Wednesday (1/19/05). Traffic was so bad that public school students at more than 50 Wake County Schools couldn’t get home. The schools suspended bus service at about 11 last night — and the students who were left behind — had to spend the night in classrooms. City officials say it’s unclear exactly why so little snow caused so many problems. WUNC\’s Morning Edition anchor Eric Hodge spoke with Mayor Charles Meeker on Thursday morning. Meeker says Wednesday was a very frustrating day for drivers – and for the police and road crews who were trying to help people get home.

After George W. Bush is sworn in for a second term as president of the United States the country’s 55th inaugural parade will wind its way through the streets of Washington DC. It will include floats from across the country, military regiments, citizen groups and the nation’s best high school marching bands – including the West Johnston High School Marching Band from Benson North Carolina. WUNC’s Jessica Jones reports.

A U-S District Court Judge in Raleigh will now decide whether the Navy can continue with its current plan to build a disputed landing strip in Eastern North Carolina. Judge Terrence Boyle heard arguments yesterday (1/19/05) from attorneys on both sides of the issue. WUNC’s Rusty Jacobs reports.